All events are subject to change. Please confirm with the event organizer before attending.
Holiday Posada | MOLAA, Long Beach
December 13: Make piñatas, enjoy cultural performances, and join the joyful Posada procession at AJUA’s festive holiday celebration.
Shoreline Yacht Club’s Christmas Boat Parade | Long Beach
December 13: Enjoy a boat parade with scenic views of the Long Beach waterfront. The viewing party held at Shoreline Village gives guests an ideal vantage point to take in the parade, marina and city lights with DJ, balloon twisters, holiday music, and snow at Shoreline Village.
Christmas Boat Parade & Ring of Lights in Newport Beach
December 17-21: Watch beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes sail along the harbor. View the parade from over 50 locations including Marina Park and Balboa Village Fun Zone.
Disney On Ice: Let’s Dance! | Crypto.com Arena, LA
December 18-21: Dance with Mickey, relive your favorite Disney stories on ice, and join a festive sing-along preshow during this high-energy family show.
Capistrano Lights at Mission San Juan Capistrano
DECEMBER 19-23 and 26-30: Join in the spirit this holiday season at the Mission for Capistrano Lights: Mission Lights! The beloved annual event returns with 10 days and nights of family fun. Enjoy a life-sized nativity, the stunning light tunnel with over 20,000 lights, Dickens Carolers, family crafts, sing-alongs during the tree lighting program, hot cocoa and S’mores, plus lots more. Santa will even be on hand for photos!
63rd Annual Cruise of Lights at Huntington Harbour
DECEMBER 19 - 23: The Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee Cruise of Lights® offers 50-minute narrated boat tours through the waterways of Huntington Harbour. See the beauty of thousands of lights and animated displays on brightly decorated homes, docks, decks and boats.
Holiday Express Train | Metrolink Stations
December 6-21: Start with crafts and treats at the station, then ride a sparkly holiday train with carolers, characters, and Santa onboard.
Nochebuena – A Christmas Spectacular at The Soraya
DECEMBER 20-22: A Christmas spectacular featuring Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Pueblo Viejo with special guest Ximena Sariñana. The Soraya celebrates the 10th anniversary of this performance with an expanded schedule leading right into the holidays.
Public Star Party at the Griffith Observatory in LA
Nov 22 & Dec 20: Try dozens of telescopes and spot the Sun, Moon, and planets with help from local astronomers.
Holiday Snow Land | Balearic Park, Costa Mesa
December 20: Balearic Park turns into a winter wonderland with over 40 tons of snow. This time-honored tradition hosts over 1,000 people annually. FREE!
Polar Express Family Day | San Diego Railroad Museum
December 20: Watch the Polar Express, make holiday cards, ornaments, see Santa, and enjoy the exhibits!
Ultimate Ninja Winter Camp
December 22 – January 9: Looking for something amazing for your kids to do during Winter Break? Send them to Ultimate Ninjas, where kids ages 5-13 can learn to conquer Ninja Warrior style obstacle courses, just like on TV, and have a blast doing it! Half-day or full-day options.
Yuletide Cinemaland at the Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles
December 6-23: Join Street Food Cinema for an immersive holiday experience featuring Victorian holiday home tours, food trucks, vendors, Santa appearances, photo ops, and your favorite holiday films under the stars.
Annual LA County Holiday Celebration | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
December 24: Watch a diverse group of L.A.-based artists and community groups showcase their talent, artistry and traditions on The Music Center’s iconic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage. The three-hour live production features instrumental music, choral music and dance performances. FREE!
Holiday Sewing Workshops at Sewing Lab
DECEMBER 22 & 29 - Hands-on seasonal workshops for kids (ages 7 and up), each with a different project focus. The Holiday Pajama Workshop guides kids through making their own pair of pajamas, while the New Year’s Workshop focuses on creating a sweatshirt or pants. All sessions are beginner-friendly.
Rose Parade Viewing Party | Southern California Children’s Museum, Pasadena
January 1: Enjoy a prime view of the parade, continental breakfast, open museum play, and fun-themed crafts.
Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase in Pasadena
January 1-3: Experience this 2-mile showcase of Rose Parade floats and walk within a few feet of floats to appreciate the creativity and details of each display.
Disney On Ice: Let’s Dance! | Long Beach Arena
January 1-4: Dance with Mickey, relive your favorite Disney stories on ice, and join a festive sing-along preshow during this high-energy family show.
Oshogatsu Family Festival | Japanese American National Museum, LA
January 11: Make mochi, see candy art demonstrations, craft Year-of-the-Horse keepsakes, and enjoy a day of cultural performances at this free New Year festival. FREE!
Westerly School Community Tour | Long Beach
January 15: Tour the Westerly campus and experience their learning spaced during the school day!
Experience The Dream: MLK The Musical | Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
January 16-18: Follow the moving love story of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King in a new musical that blends history, song, and powerful storytelling.
OCSA Connects Community Arts Festival | OCSA Campus, Santa Ana
January 17: This free, annual community festival, hosted on the campus of Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), offers arts-minded children a full day of play! Kids (ages 5-11) and their families are invited to come take part in arts play areas and experiences while enjoying live performances by OCSA's talented students.
Martin Luther King Jr. Parade | Long Beach
Saturday, January 17: The parade kicks off at the intersection of MLK and Anaheim St., followed by a park celebration with performances, kid zone, food and merchandize vendors, and more. FREE!
The Peking Acrobats | CSULB Carpenter Center, Long Beach
January 17: Marvel at gravity-defying stunts and centuries-old acrobatic artistry with The Peking Acrobats.
Dancing in the Light: Healing with the Arts | Debbie Allen Dance Academy, LA
January 18: Take free dance classes, enjoy an aerial demo, and join a live sculpture talk at Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s MLK community celebration. FREE!
MLK Day Parade | Los Angeles
January 19: Celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. FREE!
Dog Man: The Musical | Long Beach Terrace Theater
January 22: Cheer on Dog Man as he battles cyborg fish, Beasty Buildings, and one very evil cat in this musical made for giggle-loving kids.
Festival of Human Abilities at the Aquarium of the Pacific
January 24-25: Join the Aquarium of the Pacific for its annual Festival of Human Abilities, a celebration highlighting the creative talents and abilities of people with disabilities.
Westerly School Open House | Long Beach
January 24: Tour the Westerly campus and experience their learning spaced during the school day! FREE!
Weather Hunters ft. Al Roker | Natural History Museum, Los Angeles
January 24: Explore hands-on weather science, meet Weather Hunters characters, and catch special screenings with a Q&A featuring Al Roker.
LEGOLAND® Junior Galaxy Explorers | Kidspace Museum, Pasadena
January 30–31: Kids build LEGO spacecraft with a Master Model Builder and can enter a contest to be among the first riders of LEGOLAND’s new Galacticoaster.
Tanzanite African Acrobats | Irvine Barclay Theatre
January 31: Watch East African acrobats perform towering human pyramids, rhythmic drumming, and dazzling stunts in a high-energy cultural showcase.
Lunar New Year Festival in Monterey Park
January 31 - February 1: Enjoy a day celebrating the Lunar New Year with performers, delicious food, live entertainment, family activities, and more!
The Great Race: A Chinese New Year Adventure | Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
January 31 & February 1: Join characters, Po Po and Kung Kung, as they celebrate Chinese New Year by making dumplings and sharing the story of The Great Race with their grandkids, Freddie and Ivy. The show weaves a family celebration with a re-telling of one of the most beloved tales in Chinese folklore - the origin story of the Chinese Zodiac.
DodgerFest | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
January 31: Enjoy games, live music, player meet-and-greets, and a Dodgers memorabilia fundraiser supporting community programs. FREE!
San Diego Museum Month — Half-Off Admission to 70+ Museums
FEBRUARY 1-28: Enjoy half-off admission to more than 80 museums, gardens, aquariums, historic sites, nature and wildlife centers, state parks and more! It's the region's biggest month-long celebration of arts, culture, history, science, nature, and so much more.
Whale Fiesta | Cabrillo Aquarium, San Pedro
February 1: Celebrate the migration of the Pacific gray whale and the beginning of the whale watch season. It's a family day filled with activities and exhibits for all including games, arts and crafts, puppet shows, expert guest lecturers, and festive music.
First Fridays: 20th Anniversary Season | Natural History Museum, LA
February–May: Explore NHM after hours with live music, science pop-ups, cocktails, and expert-led talks as First Fridays celebrates 20 years of nighttime museum adventures. Upcoming themes include Feb 6 – Life at the Human Scale, March 6 – Life at the City Scale, April 3 – Life at the Planetary Scale, and May 1 – Life at the Cosmic Scale.
Lucky Lunar Fest | Macy’s South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
February 7: ACE NextGen partners with Macy's for its 2nd Annual Lucky Lunar Fest celebrating the Year of the Horse. Explore The Lunar Gallery exhibition, create wishes at the arts and crafts station, watch traditional performances including lion dance, and enter a raffle giveaway. FREE!
Recycle Your Old Device, Receive FREE Admission | Santa Ana Zoo
February 1–28: Recycle eligible electronic devices at the Santa Ana Zoo and receive one free same-day admission per device. Offer valid during February 2026 only. FREE!
Danny Elfman’s Music: Films of Tim Burton | Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
February 13–14: Experience Elfman’s iconic Tim Burton film scores - including Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory - in a live symphonic showcase.
USVA Tết Festival | Golden West College, Huntington Beach
February 13–15: Explore Vietnamese cultural traditions, live performances, fun zone attractions, and a dazzling firecracker show during one of the nation’s largest Tết celebrations.
California Days | Calico Ghost Town Regional Park, Yermo
February 14-15: California Days celebrates early California history. This family-friendly event features family activities, gunfight shows, and educational displays. Enjoy egg toss, butter churning, relay races, horseshoe toss, and more.
Vintage Computer Festival
February 14-15: Explore retro gaming, historic computers, and hands-on exhibits at VCF SoCal. Kids can try out vintage machines and see cool new tech built for old computers. Children (ages 12 and under) are free!
Fall in Love with Ponyo Tours | Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles
February 14-15: Academy Museum offers 30-minute guided tours of the Studio Ghibli PONYO exhibition. Museum educators explore Hayao Miyazaki's artistic style and character designs with visitors of all ages. Tours run at noon, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm. Free with general admission.
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Love Notes | Gloria Molina Grand Park, Los Angeles
February 14: Gloria Molina Grand Park celebrates Valentine's Day with Love Notes, a free community celebration featuring custom tote bag printing, card-making, floral stations, classic cars, live DJ with radio-style dedications, sweet treats, local makers, and a drone light show finale. Text (213) 204-1666 to share dedications live during the event. FREE!
Third Weekends at LACMA | Los Angeles County Museum of Art
February 19-22: LACMA's Third Weekends series features art workshops, gallery talks, meditation sessions, Andell Family Sundays, chess activities, fiber arts, and film screenings. Enjoy both free and ticketed programming throughout the weekend inspired by the museum's collection. Many events require RSVP.
Harlem Globetrotters: The 100 Year Tour | Intuit Dome, Inglewood
February 20: See the Harlem Globetrotters take over Intuit Dome with trick shots, dunks, and family-friendly fun on their 100 Year Tour.
Prehistoric Fight Nights | Natural History Museum, Los Angeles
February 20–21: Prehistoric Fight Nights brings two evenings of dinosaur and Ice Age debates to the Natural History Museum. Ted Rechlin joins experts from NHM and La Brea Tar Pits to determine the ultimate prehistoric champions. Explore fossil displays, interactive activities, and a post-program book signing.
Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos – Los Angeles | Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena
February 28 - March 1: Explore themed habitats, exclusive raids, and special research during Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos. Ticket required.
Disclaimer: The Kidsguide team does their best to keep event details accurate at the time of posting, but information can change without notice! Be sure to double-check with the event organizer before heading out. Kidsguide is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or changes on our calendar—we’re just here to help you find the fun!
